Cockpit is a web-based admin console for a single Linux server: live resource graphs, service control, log viewing (journalctl in the browser), storage and network configuration, user management, software updates, and an in-browser terminal, without agents on a central server.

Install and enable¶

sudo dnf install cockpit                       # RHEL/Fedora, usually preinstalled on Fedora Workstation/Server
sudo systemctl enable --now cockpit.socket

# Debian/Ubuntu
sudo apt-get install cockpit
sudo systemctl enable --now cockpit.socket

Open https://<server-address>:9090/ and log in with a local Linux account that has sudo/wheel privileges for admin actions.

Firewall¶

sudo firewall-cmd --add-service=cockpit --permanent && sudo firewall-cmd --reload    # see the firewalld guide

Extending it¶

Extra Cockpit modules add functionality: cockpit-podman for containers, cockpit-machines for libvirt VMs, cockpit-storaged for advanced storage (often included by default). Install the matching package and reload the page.

Cockpit changes are applied through the same system tools it exposes (systemd, NetworkManager, and so on), so command-line changes and Cockpit stay in sync; it is a viewer/actuator, not a separate config layer. Restrict access to trusted networks or put it behind a VPN, since it is a full admin interface.